OEM+ 2012 Phantom Black Avant Build Thread

**avantagg** · 06-23-2016 07:32 AM

Tiny update: sourced the final two vents needed to update the interior. It's a trivial difference, but man those chrome rings on the dials match everything else in the car now. Interior pics once the wheel arrives! Still waiting for sunroof cables....

**avantagg** · 06-24-2016 06:51 PM

Not quite to the home stretch but some serious progress on the interior today. Piano glove box trim finally arrived...

...along with this beauty.

The flat bottom wheels really do transform the interior of these cars. So fun to drive!

Made a stop at the dealer to pick up sunshade cables which finally arrived from Canada. Time to get this thing back together!

**geojt72** · 06-25-2016 05:54 AM

what will you do with the other steering wheel?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**avantagg** · 06-25-2016 06:07 AM

Originally Posted by geojt72

what will you do with the other steering wheel?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I actually just sold it to another member. Still got a set of chrome avant roof rails though! : ) You have an Allroad right?

**geojt72** · 06-25-2016 06:14 AM

I do have an AR, but aren't really looking to swap the rails out.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**avantagg** · 06-25-2016 06:25 AM

Originally Posted by geojt72

I do have an AR, but aren't really looking to swap the rails out.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No worries. It's kind of a big project for the small exterior enhancement.

**geojt72** · 06-25-2016 06:27 AM

yeah I would definitely be looking to do the all black conversion as you did,if I was to go to that extreme.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**allroadB8'r** · 06-26-2016 07:10 AM

Whats the part number of airbag you used for your wheel? I have the same wheel but missing the airbag..

**avantagg** · 06-26-2016 07:59 AM

Originally Posted by allroadB8'r

Whats the part number of airbag you used for your wheel? I have the same wheel but missing the airbag..

Nice. Here's the part number I used: 8K0880201AE
Found a new one from an eBay seller. No fitment issues, no warning lights etc. — plug and play!

**allroadB8'r** · 06-26-2016 08:29 AM

Originally Posted by avantagg

Nice. Here's the part number I used: 8K0880201AE
Found a new one from an eBay seller. No fitment issues, no warning lights etc. — plug and play!

Thanks! Just ordred one from Sweeden with the same part number :)

**Killerboots** · 06-26-2016 12:22 PM

Really blurring the lines between B8 and B8.5 -- Wow!!

**avantagg** · 06-26-2016 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by Killerboots

Really blurring the lines between B8 and B8.5 -- Wow!!

Thanks man. it's been fun searching for the parts!

**avantagg** · 06-26-2016 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by allroadB8'r

Thanks! Just ordred one from Sweeden with the same part number :)

No prob! Glad I could help.

**avantagg** · 06-29-2016 09:38 AM

Side profile sporting the new black roof rails.

**NLPed68** · 06-29-2016 09:40 AM

^^^ Looks absolutely fantastic!!!

**jmeenach** · 06-29-2016 10:18 AM

Your car is looking amazing these days! Love all of the little details.

**avantagg** · 06-29-2016 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by NLPed68

^^^ Looks absolutely fantastic!!!

Thanks Ed! You've got me considering the brakes next : )

Originally Posted by jmeenach

Your car is looking amazing these days! Love all of the little details.

Thank you! It's been kind of like solving a puzzle to find all these pieces, but I really enjoy the details.

**jmeenach** · 06-29-2016 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by avantagg

Thanks Ed! You've got me considering the brakes next : )

Thank you! It's been kind of like solving a puzzle to find all these pieces, but I really enjoy the details.

I can relate. When I was in high school, I had a suburban and it took me two years to find all of the correct interior pieces for the interior escapade conversion. Was a huge pain, but it was worth it in the end.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**NLPed68** · 06-29-2016 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by avantagg

Thanks Ed! You've got me considering the brakes next : )

I've concluded that I will have to get new wheels because my current ones will NOT clear the S4 calipers on the front. So it'll be a bit longer before they'll get installed. But it's all good, I'm still waiting on my B12 kit... & the K04 goes on next Thursday

.

**avantagg** · 06-29-2016 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by NLPed68

I'm still waiting on my B12 kit... & the K04 goes on next Thursday

.

Sorry to hear about the wait. I feel like we ordered these right around the same time. You went through AJUSA right?

KO4! AWESOME.

**avantagg** · 07-01-2016 09:01 AM

More sunshade woes.

My friend stopped by last night to assist with cable installation and we noticed some small rips in the seems of the sunshade. Unfortunately the loose fabric is causing some bunching and the shade will not slide through the track properly..... soooo off to the seemstress it goes in hopes this thing can be salvaged. Patience wearing thin, but damn we're so close!

**avantagg** · 07-05-2016 05:36 AM

It's no Killerboots epic tribute, but a snap from a few weeks ago with some good 'ol American vibes :) Hope everyone had a good 4th!

**avantagg** · 07-15-2016 11:37 AM

This friggin sunshade will be the end of me (and my wife is literally about to kill me). My friend came over last night to help me reinstall the newly repaired black sunshade (third time that my sunroof assembly has been pulled out) and it still doesn't work. The metal ribbons that run down the outer seems of the fabric are too bent up and they are getting bunched in the track causing serious binding. The condition of the used shade that I bought on eBay was not as good as I had thought after all. When comparing it to my original silver one it really is in tough shape. There is very little margin for error with this assembly.

So, new plan. I am going to try and dye my original shade black and see if that does the trick. I want my interior back!

Wish me luck.

**dropshadow** · 07-15-2016 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by avantagg

Wish me luck.

I was just wondering where you were with progress on this. Too bad about the sunshade. You could always buy this wrecked allroad for $9k and cannibalize its interior.

**bakedziti** · 07-15-2016 12:18 PM

I'd be all over those chestnut seats, but sorry to hear of your continued troubles @avantagg

**avantagg** · 07-15-2016 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by dropshadow

I was just wondering where you were with progress on this. Too bad about the sunshade. You could always buy this wrecked allroad for $9k and cannibalize its interior.

Ahhh, that's the car we were talking about earlier! Unfortunately I'm too far down the rabbit hole at this point. And parting that thing out would be like a second job......3 months ago that could have been tempting though.

Originally Posted by bakedziti

I'd be all over those chestnut seats, but sorry to hear of your continued troubles @avantagg

Love that color man! My neighbor recently picked up a '14 AR with the same package. I asked him if he wanted to swap headliners : ) Family and friends think I'm nuts for doing this to my car....at least you can relate : )

**avantagg** · 07-19-2016 05:25 PM

Finally some progress! The black sunshade I picked up off eBay was total junk, but fortunately I saved my original silver one. My last ditch effort was to try and dye the shade black, and I think it worked!

I dug around and found this stuff called dye-na-flow fabric paint (it's more of an ink then a paint). It's perfect for synthetic fabrics and does not have to be heat applied like some other dyes. It also dries soft to the touch. I'm hoping that this should be the ticket to finally getting my interior back together.

Now we wait 3 days for the fabric to cure and probably another week until my friend can help me dismantle the sunroof frame and reinstall the shade (again). Baby steps here, but we should be in business soon!

**geojt72** · 07-19-2016 05:36 PM

it looks really good. I hope that works for you. miracle in a bottle!

Sent from miphone using Tapatalk

**ECDT** · 07-19-2016 06:17 PM

Well if this works out I may actually look to doing the swap sooner than later since the huge expense is the headliner and sunshade :fingerscrossed: quality looks good and is very promising thanks for being brave enough to try something like this

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

**dropshadow** · 07-19-2016 06:21 PM

Wow dude, that's awesome. I wonder how that stuff would work on headliners? :)

Sorry the eBay shade didn't work out. Are you going to try to get any money back from the seller?

**avantagg** · 07-19-2016 06:30 PM

Thanks guys. This stuff is pretty awesome. I bet if you bought enough of it and threw it in a spray gun you could totally do a headliner with it. Hell, I'd be willing to guinea pig my old silver one. I think @bakedziti has a spare too :)

@dropshadow, the seller went radio silent on me after I attempted to get my money back. He was trying to claim that I was installing the shade improperly and that I damaged it. I think he knew it was crap before he even sent it to me. Not sure what I'm able to do because I sent it friends and family.

**dropshadow** · 07-19-2016 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by avantagg

Thanks guys. This stuff is pretty awesome. I bet if you bought enough of it and threw it in a spray gun you could totally do a headliner with it. Hell, I'd be willing to guinea pig my old silver one. I think @bakedziti has a spare too :)

@dropshadow, the seller went radio silent on me after I attempted to get my money back. He was trying to claim that I was installing the shade improperly and that I damaged it. I think he knew it was crap before he even sent it to me. Not sure what I'm able to do because I sent it friends and family.

Try going through eBay instead of PayPal, see what recourse you have there.

**bakedziti** · 07-19-2016 07:28 PM

Originally Posted by avantagg

Hell, I'd be willing to guinea pig my old silver one. I think @bakedziti has a spare too :)

I hadn't thought of that, but love the idea; "dye these, don't destroy yours" or dye them and sell them.

Really glad to see things are coming together here

**avantagg** · 07-19-2016 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by bakedziti

I hadn't thought of that, but love the idea; "dye these, don't destroy yours" or dye them and sell them.

I know, right! Here's a link to the bulk products.

http://store.jacquardproducts.com/dyenaflow/jac_829

I bought 3 (2.25 oz) containers from my local art supply store and barely had enough after mixing in an oz of water. Would be interesting to know if it works in a spray gun. It's probably the best way to do a headliner.

**bakedziti** · 07-20-2016 01:58 AM

Originally Posted by avantagg

I know, right! Here's a link to the bulk products.

http://store.jacquardproducts.com/dyenaflow/jac_829

I bought 3 (2.25 oz) containers from my local art supply store and barely had enough after mixing in an oz of water. Would be interesting to know if it works in a spray gun. It's probably the best way to do a headliner.

A spray gun would be the best way to do this. I really have nothing to lose here, except having a set of black pieces laying around instead of grey. I'll do some digging this week.

**johnnySV** · 07-20-2016 08:33 AM

Hi,

when you swapped gauges, was mileage stored in there, or somewhere else like the ECU?

I am nearby in NH and have similar Avant and similar mod interests. I'm not sure if the PMs I'm sending are being received, but I can def receive the PMs that other members are sending me. Care to PM me your phone number so that we can keep in touch via txt, etc. my local wagon forum friend ??

**avantagg** · 07-20-2016 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by johnnySV

Hi,

when you swapped gauges, was mileage stored in there, or somewhere else like the ECU?

I am nearby in NH and have similar Avant and similar mod interests. I'm not sure if the PMs I'm sending are being received, but I can def receive the PMs that other members are sending me. Care to PM me your phone number so that we can keep in touch via txt, etc. my local wagon forum friend ??

No prob! PMed

**Killerboots** · 07-20-2016 09:26 AM

I really hope that paint works for you Chris! I'm rooting for you! So close now.

**avantagg** · 07-20-2016 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by Killerboots

I really hope that paint works for you Chris! I'm rooting for you! So close now.

Thanks Eric! It looks great, very close match to OEM factory black. Just need to pop this sucker back into the track and make sure everything is sliding as it should. PITA to remove every time.

On a side note, the friend I have helping me with this is a VW master tech. He told me these pano sunshades are one of the most hated repairs at the dealership. I can understand why now.

So close!

**sferraro** · 07-20-2016 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by avantagg

Thanks Eric! It looks great, very close match to OEM factory black. Just need to pop this sucker back into the track and make sure everything is sliding as it should. PITA to remove every time.

On a side note, the friend I have helping me with this is a VW master tech. He told me these pano sunshades are one of the most hated repairs at the dealership. I can understand why now.

So close!

Can't wait to see how it turns out, Chris.